DEC. 1768 FORTIFICATIONS 4I 



fortification, Santa Cruz, and another opposite it. There is 

 also a platform mounting about twenty-two guns, just under 

 the Sugar-loaf on the seaside, but it seems entirely calculated 

 to hinder the landing of an enemy in a sandy bay, from whence 

 there is a passage to the back part of the town, which is 

 entirely undefended, except that the whole town is open to 

 the guns of the citadel, St. Sebastian, as I said before. 

 Between Santa Cruz and the town are several small batteries 

 of five or ten guns, and one fairly large one called Berga Leon. 

 Immediately before the town is the Ilhoa dos Cobras, an 

 island fortified all round, which seems incapable of doing 

 much mischief owing to its immense size ; at least it would 

 take more men to defend it, even tolerably, in case of an 

 attack, than could possibly be spared from a town totally 

 without lines or any defence round it. Santa Cruz, their 

 chief fortification, on which they most rely, seems quite 

 incapable of making any great resistance if smartly attacked 

 by shipping. It is a stone fort, mounting many guns 

 indeed, but they lie tier above tier, and are consequently 

 very open to the attack of a ship which may come within 

 two cable lengths or less ; besides, they have no supply of 

 water but what they obtain from a cistern, in which they 

 catch the rain, or, in times of drought, which they supply 

 from the adjacent country. This cistern they have been 

 obliged to build above ground, lest the water should become 

 tainted by the heat of the climate, which a free access of air 

 prevents ; consequently should a fortunate shot break the 

 cistern, the defenders would be reduced to the utmost necessity. 

 I was told by a person who certainly knew, and I 

 believe meant to inform me rightly, that a little to the 

 southward, just without the south head of the harbour, was 

 a bay in which boats might land with all facility without 

 obstruction, as there is no kind of work there, and that from 

 this bay it is not above three hours' march to the town, 

 which is approached from the back, where it is as defence- 

 less as the landing-place ; but this seems incredible. Yet 

 I am inclined to believe it of these people, whose chief 

 policy consists in hindering people as much as possible from 



